Fanciful tales of rabbit detectives, thrilling stories that actually happened and delightful picture books that you’re never too old to cuddle up with and enjoy are among The Washington Post Book World reviewers’ choices for the best kids books of the year.

Remember, putting a book or two on your holiday wish list is never a bad idea!

Featuring fascinating details of sea life as well as a sense of an ocean’s size, this picture-book biography captures how the pioneering scientist’s quest to explore and understand the underwater world began with a pair of goggles.

When Traction Man and his loyal sidekick, Scrubbing Brush, are washed out to sea, it’s Beach-Time Brenda and the Dollies to the rescue in this ad­ven­ture, which ends with a sand castle, a “pinkly paisley inflatable dinghy” and a whole lot of laughs.